How to Drink Glenfiddich

Last Updated on: 13th April 2024, 01:37 pm

Discover the best way of drinking Glenfiddich: Ideas for tasting, pairing, and enjoying this affordable and smooth Scotch.

Written by: J Highland

Key Takeaways

• Best Served Neat: Sipping Glenfiddich 12 neat allows you to fully appreciate its smooth and subtle flavors, suggests whisky expert Neil Coleman.
• Water Addition: Adding a dash of water can unlock its sweet and floral notes, enhancing the whisky’s approachability. Be cautious not to overdo it, as too much water can dilute the flavors.
• Ice and Whiskey Stones: While traditionally not recommended due to flavor suppression, a few large ice cubes can make the drink more palatable for those accustomed to chilled beverages. Alternatively, whiskey stones can chill the drink without dilution.
• Glassware: A Glencairn glass is ideal for enhancing the whisky’s aromas, but a whiskey tumbler also provides a good tasting experience.
• Food Pairings: Pairs well with smoked salmon, dark chocolate, mature cheddar cheese, roasted nuts, and apple-based desserts like apple pie or tarte tatin.
• Quick Note: Running a pub and liquor store provides me ample access to various spirits, in addition, I moonlight as a spirits distiller. I assess them using customer feedback, expert opinions and online research.

Best Way to Drink Glenfiddich

“Glenfiddich 12 is an easy-drinking whisky, its uncomplicated and smooth character makes it perfect for sipping neat, allowing you to fully appreciate its subtle intricacies.”, suggests whisky expert Neil Coleman.

Traditionally, Scots drink their whisky by adding a dash of water.

Add water to unlock sweet and floral notes, making the whisky more approachable.

However, I strongly recommend being judicious with the water; add just a bit.

Drowning it will certainly kill the flavor.

In the United States, adding ice to beverages is quite popular, but it’s not the ideal way to enjoy Scotch.

The intricate notes, especially the floral and sweet ones, tend to get trapped, diminishing the drink’s potential.

Despite these traditions, if you’re trying this delicious whisky for the first time and are accustomed to chilled drinks, you might find it more palatable with a few large ice cubes.

Just bear in mind, that the colder the whisky, the more its flavors are muted.

Consider investing in whiskey stones; they’ll cool your whisky without watering it down, plus they lend an air of elegance, boosting your style quotient.

Glassware Selection

A Glencairn glass is my top choice for Glenfiddich and to drink single malt scotch in general.

Its shape concentrates the aromas, ensuring every sip captures the whisky’s full essence.

However, if you’re not keen on investing in a Glencairn right away, a whiskey tumbler will suffice and still offer a good-tasting experience.

Tasting Notes

Glenfiddich 12 is a beginners drink, that carries a subtle scent, blending floral and fruity nuances, enhanced by a whisper of honey.

When sipped, this whisky Scotch showcases a harmonious body, with a fruity sweetness, accented by notes of pear and a trace of oak.

Its concluding taste is moderate, leaving behind an impression of pear and gentle oak, devoid of any intense heat.

In summary, the Glenfiddich taste is approachable without further complications as it lacks smoke and peat that are harder to appreciate.

Mixing Glenfiddich in Cocktails

Generally, I shy away from using single malt whiskies in cocktails because of their price, leaning more towards blended Scotch whiskies.

I’d suggest opting for something like Monkey Shoulder, which is notably more wallet-friendly.

Interestingly, Monkey Shoulder is a malt blend, with some of its components hailing from the Glenfiddich distillery.

It stands as a great choice for cocktail creations, outshining Glenfiddich 12 in this regard.

However, if you’re keen on crafting cocktails with Glenfiddich 12, here are some suggestions for you to explore.

Cocktails

Easy to make whisky cocktail selections:

Whisky Sour with a Twist:

• 2 oz Scotch
• 0.75 oz lemon juice
• 0.5 oz simple syrup
• Orange slice and cherry for garnish

Shake the whisky, lemon juice, and syrup with ice. Strain into a glass filled with ice. Garnish with an orange slice and cherry.

Scotch Old Fashioned:

• 2 oz Scotch
• 2 dashes Angostura Bitters
• 1 sugar cube
• Orange twist for garnish

Muddle the sugar and bitters with one whisky measure. Add ice, and the remaining whisky, and garnish with an orange twist.

Food Pairings

Glenfiddich 12, with its delicate balance of fruity and oak notes, pairs wonderfully with a variety of foods.

Here are five food pairings to consider:

1. Smoked Salmon: The light smokiness of the salmon complements the subtle oak notes in this whisky, while its rich, oily texture balances the whisky’s crispness.
2. Dark Chocolate: A piece of high-quality dark chocolate can enhance the fruitier aspects of the whisky, especially the notes of pear and apple, creating a luxurious tasting experience.
3. Mature Cheddar Cheese: The sharpness and slight creaminess of a mature cheddar can highlight the vanilla and caramel notes in the Scotch, offering a harmonious contrast of flavors.
4. Roasted Almonds or Nuts: The nutty flavors work well with the whisky’s oak and malt notes, providing a simple yet satisfying pairing.
5. Apple Pie or Tarte Tatin: The apple in the dessert resonates with the orchard fruit notes in this whisky, while the caramelization from the baking process complements the whisky’s sweetness.

Enjoying whisky with food is about finding complementary or contrasting flavors that enhance your overall tasting experience.

Glenfiddich 12’s versatility makes it a great companion to a wide range of dishes.

Storing Guidelines

Store the bottle in an upright position in a cool, dark place to avoid contact with the liquid with the stopper.

Always ensure the bottle is sealed tightly.

And remember, an opened bottle is best enjoyed sooner rather than later.